The Cross in the Sky
There was a cross in the sky!
While mowing the lawn the other day, I glanced up at the sky. A number of jet airplanes were flying around and the contrails of two of the jets left a perfect cross in the eastern sky.
This was a beautiful image to see above the Kansas City area where I live. But then, something started to happen. As the winds blew, the image of the cross began to fade a little more each moment. After an hour or so, the cross was completely gone.
You’ve probably guessed where I’m going with this. Yes, that cross vanishing from the sky represents the picture of what seems to be happening in our beloved nation.
Just like the cross was quite vivid and clear in the sky, so also, the name and honor of Jesus Christ was once clear and prevalent in our society. And, just like the cross in the sky began to fade out of site, so also has the name of Christ faded from a place of honor in America.
I’m definitely not saying that His name is gone totally from this nation. He is God Almighty, and nobody will ever erase Him from His Sovereign Reign. But to me it is sad to see the name of Christ being removed from every arena of public life in this nation.
Many schools, courts, government agencies, and other organizations seem to work very hard to strip Jesus Christ from their programs and statements.
When I was a child, we always had a Christmas sing-along program around the holidays. We sang the fun songs, but we also sang things like Joy to the World, Silent Night, and other Christ-exalting music. Nowadays, when I go to our children’s Christmas programs, I never hear the name of Christ mentioned even once.
Of course, we’re all familiar with the movement to use the phrase, “Happy Holidays,” or “Holiday Celebration,” rather than “Merry Christmas.”
Where does it all stop?
- Will the day come when churches can no longer legally have the name of Christ in their titles?
- Is there a time coming when people can no longer “legally” share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with other people?
- How do we as true Christians begin to uphold the name of Christ and all that He stands for?
The number one way to win this battle is the same way we win any battle. We must pray fervently. We must pray for another Great Awakening like this nation has seen in the past. My prayer is that this next awakening, this next outpouring of the Holy Spirit, will be greater than any the world has ever seen.
Entering into arguments with those who hate the name of Christ—is not the answer. The first move is to commit ourselves to constant prayer for our nation and the world. Please pray that billions around the world will be brought to Christ as the Holy Spirit convicts them of sin and opens their eyes to the free gift of salvation through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Only as the Spirit of God begins to work will we be able to engage people in a loving manner and not have them turn away and reject us. The Holy Spirit must move first, then we can follow. Yes, we do have to speak up. We do have to share the truth lovingly and boldly. But first, we must saturate heaven with our prayers for God’s grace and power to give us opportunities to make new friends and love them in Christ.
From the Scriptures, we have the certain knowledge that the day is coming when Jesus Christ Himself (not an image of the cross) will appear vividly and powerfully in the sky. O how we long for that day. He will forever put an end to sin and death and suffering for His children. All the host of the redeemed will honor and worship God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit forever.
But until that day, He has directed us to “make disciples.” Let’s prayerfully be about the Father’s business, as spelled out in Matthew 28:18-20.
Yours in Christ and for His glory, Glen Averill
June 02 2010 03:22 pm | Uncategorized
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